(Imperial SealImperial Seal | Art by Li Tie)
Name Your Price
How much is a card worth? How much is a deck worth? A format? This article is a bit of a thought experiment, intended to highlight the popularity of Magic as a game, Commander as a format, and specific cards as staples, as well as the considerable investment players have made to pursue the game they love.
We often talk about ubiquity within Commander solely as a function of how frequently cards appear in decklists, and rightfully so, but certainly those decklists would look different if money was no object. We'd certainly see a lot more copies of Mishra's WorkshopMishra's Workshop!
Mishra's Workshop
I submit that one clear reflection of a card's power level is the cost players are willing to pay, in literal dollars and cents, to include it in their decks over an inferior alternative. Thus, I thought it would be interesting to look at each card's EDH Market Capitalization - the total value represented by all copies listed in EDHREC decks, at a given price.
total market cap = total copies across all EDHREC decks × current price at TCGplayer.com
Note that, for the figures in this article to truly reflect the actual value of cards in EDHREC, we'd need to make the following assumptions, none of which are actually true:
- All of the decks on EDHREC represent actual decks of 100 cards in Real Life™, rather than just notional decklists.
- If, for example, 38,000 copies of Phyrexian AltarPhyrexian Altar suddenly flooded the secondary market, they would all be valued at the current price of almost $90. Magic is a popular game, but demand is not infinite and we have lots of evidence that card prices are responsive to supply.
- The prices and deck counts I'm using are exactly correct. In reality, I'm a few days out of date, but I'm certainly close in every case.
So, as long as you're comfortable staying in the realm of the conceptual, here is a graphical depiction of the total value of every card in the EDHREC database:
Note the log scale. Color encodes date of original release - new cards are generally more ubiquitous in the current meta than are old cards. Black points indicate cards on the Reserved List.
This plot shows clearly the expected relationship between popularity and price. Reserved List cards, indicated in black, constitute some of the most expensive cards in the format (really, all formats) due to their top-end power and limited supply. Since it's not particularly interesting to talk about how much players value extremely expensive/broken cards and dual lands, I'm mostly going to ignore the RL henceforth.
Before I start the countdown of the Top 10 cards by market cap, stop and guess which cards you expect to show up.
Ready?
The top 10 most valuable cards across EDHREC
| rank | card | num_decks | price | market_cap | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #10 | Vampiric Tutor | 108,066 | $45 | $4,824,066 | Almost certainly the best generic tutor; highly prevalent in combo decks. |
| #9 | Jeweled Lotus | 63,909 | $77 | $4,912,685 | A Black LotusBlack Lotus for your commander, so you can set the table three turns ahead of schedule? Sure! |
| #8 | Fierce Guardianship | 97,319 | $51 | $4,941,859 | You can understand why many decks would want a free (to cast) NegateNegate. Not free to purchase, though. |
| #7 | Smothering Tithe | 139,846 | $36 | $5,023,268 | Leading the charge for ramp in white. Arguably an annoying play pattern, but losing is even more annoying. As with many of the cards on this list, probably due for a reprint. |
| #6 | Demonic Tutor | 157,104 | $33 | $5,109,022 | The first tutor, after which the mechanic itself is named. A staple in any black deck that needs to find combo pieces. |
| #5 | Cyclonic Rift | 185,490 | $31 | $5,770,594 | The 8th most-prevalent card in Commander, featured in 36% of decks that can run it. Instant-speed, asymmetrical, scalable. |
| #4 | Polluted Delta | 137,954 | $47 | $6,416,241 | The most popular fetchland in EDH, and the most expensive, possibly due to its popularity in other formats. |
| #3 | Dockside Extortionist | 96,518 | $70 | $6,735,991 | Possibly the best Commander-relevant ramp ever printed in red, featured in 20% of decks than can accommodate it. Only released once. |
| #2 | Mana Crypt | 144,521 | $163 | $23,551,142 | A big jump in total market cap from #3. Extremely powerful fast mana, especially in a format with a starting life total of 40. Could potentially go in every Commander deck, but it's only been released at high rarities or as a special promo. It's more widely available than the #1 card, and therefore less expensive, but its utility makes it much more ubiquitous. |
| #1 | Imperial Seal | 21,532 | $1,599 | $34,429,668 | A strictly worse Vampiric TutorVampiric Tutor; probably never run over Demonic TutorDemonic Tutor. However, it was first released in Portal Three Kingdoms, and most recently printed as a Judge Promo, so there just aren't very many of them these in circulation. Combo-centric decks need a high density of tutors, and this one will do the trick... for a price! |
Mana VaultMana Vault, Rhystic StudyRhystic Study, and Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top just missed the top 10, but since I know you want to see even more data, here are the top 251 cards by total market cap:
| name | reserved | ci | cost | num_decks | card_price | market_cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TimetwisterTimetwister | Y | U |   | 13,226 | $6,325.00 | $83,654,450 |
| Imperial SealImperial Seal | N | B |  | 21,532 | $1,599.00 | $34,429,668 |
| Mox DiamondMox Diamond | Y | n |  | 52,826 | $625.50 | $33,042,663 |
| Mana CryptMana Crypt | N | n | | 144,521 | $162.96 | $23,551,142 |
| Underground SeaUnderground Sea | Y | L | 37,447 | $450.00 | $16,851,150 | |
| Volcanic IslandVolcanic Island | Y | L | 33,569 | $485.00 | $16,280,965 | |
| Tropical IslandTropical Island | Y | L | 37,229 | $430.00 | $16,008,470 | |
| BayouBayou | Y | L | 35,515 | $375.00 | $13,318,125 | |
| TundraTundra | Y | L | 32,392 | $357.99 | $11,596,012 | |
| Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune | Y | R |  | 36,956 | $279.99 | $10,347,310 |
| BadlandsBadlands | Y | L | 33,368 | $310.00 | $10,344,080 | |
| Lion's Eye DiamondLion's Eye Diamond | Y | n | | 18,590 | $540.25 | $10,043,248 |
| Mishra's WorkshopMishra's Workshop | Y | L | 3,043 | $3,300.00 | $10,041,900 | |
| The Tabernacle at Pendrell ValeThe Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale | Y | L | 2,397 | $3,600.67 | $8,630,806 | |
| Bazaar of BaghdadBazaar of Baghdad | Y | L | 1,664 | $4,999.99 | $8,319,983 | |
| TaigaTaiga | Y | L | 30,689 | $265.00 | $8,132,585 | |
| PlateauPlateau | Y | L | 30,068 | $250.00 | $7,517,000 | |
| SavannahSavannah | Y | L | 30,901 | $225.99 | $6,983,317 | |
| Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist | N | R |  | 96,518 | $69.79 | $6,735,991 |
| Gilded DrakeGilded Drake | Y | U | | 21,385 | $304.64 | $6,514,726 |
| Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle | Y | L | 30,867 | $208.47 | $6,434,843 | |
| Polluted DeltaPolluted Delta | N | L | 137,954 | $46.51 | $6,416,241 | |
| Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift | N | U | | 185,490 | $31.11 | $5,770,594 |
| Demonic TutorDemonic Tutor | N | B | | 157,104 | $32.52 | $5,109,022 |
| Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe | N | W |   | 139,846 | $35.92 | $5,023,268 |
| Fierce GuardianshipFierce Guardianship | N | U | | 97,319 | $50.78 | $4,941,859 |
| Jeweled LotusJeweled Lotus | N | n | | 63,909 | $76.87 | $4,912,685 |
| Vampiric TutorVampiric Tutor | N | B | | 108,066 | $44.64 | $4,824,066 |
| Mana VaultMana Vault | N | n | | 79,096 | $60.78 | $4,807,455 |
| Rhystic StudyRhystic Study | N | U | | 157,316 | $30.35 | $4,774,541 |
| Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top | N | n | | 76,350 | $61.80 | $4,718,430 |
| Wooded FoothillsWooded Foothills | N | L | 123,802 | $35.01 | $4,334,308 | |
| ScrublandScrubland | Y | L | 32,304 | $125.00 | $4,038,000 | |
| Sylvan LibrarySylvan Library | N | G |  | 89,298 | $45.01 | $4,019,303 |
| Urborg, Tomb of YawgmothUrborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth | N | L | 120,860 | $30.73 | $3,714,028 | |
| Cavern of SoulsCavern of Souls | N | L | 52,023 | $71.34 | $3,711,321 | |
| Mana DrainMana Drain | N | U | | 79,429 | $44.05 | $3,498,847 |
| Phyrexian AltarPhyrexian Altar | N | n | | 37,950 | $86.98 | $3,300,891 |
| Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat | N | R | | 74,584 | $43.17 | $3,219,791 |
| Ancient TombAncient Tomb | N | L | 132,828 | $23.74 | $3,153,337 | |
| Scalding TarnScalding Tarn | N | L | 118,035 | $26.24 | $3,097,238 | |
| Misty RainforestMisty Rainforest | N | L | 129,766 | $23.56 | $3,057,287 | |
| Doubling SeasonDoubling Season | N | G |  | 40,500 | $75.14 | $3,043,170 |
| Force of NegationForce of Negation | N | U | | 45,898 | $64.70 | $2,969,601 |
| Chains of MephistophelesChains of Mephistopheles | Y | B | | 1,956 | $1,499.73 | $2,933,472 |
| Mox OpalMox Opal | N | n | | 50,369 | $50.93 | $2,565,293 |
| Mana ConfluenceMana Confluence | N | L | 97,777 | $25.74 | $2,516,780 | |
| Windswept HeathWindswept Heath | N | L | 129,857 | $19.13 | $2,484,164 | |
| Bloodstained MireBloodstained Mire | N | L | 125,575 | $19.08 | $2,395,971 | |
| Breeding PoolBreeding Pool | N | L | 119,735 | $19.96 | $2,389,911 | |
| Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection | N | W | | 79,609 | $29.40 | $2,340,505 |
| Verdant CatacombsVerdant Catacombs | N | L | 123,866 | $18.55 | $2,297,714 | |
| Enlightened TutorEnlightened Tutor | N | W | | 92,203 | $24.74 | $2,281,102 |
| Prismatic VistaPrismatic Vista | N | L | 94,953 | $23.97 | $2,276,023 | |
| IntuitionIntuition | Y | U | | 12,656 | $177.21 | $2,242,770 |
| Serra's SanctumSerra's Sanctum | Y | L | 7,771 | $282.82 | $2,197,794 | |
| The Great HengeThe Great Henge | N | G |  | 49,605 | $42.88 | $2,127,062 |
| Transmute ArtifactTransmute Artifact | Y | U | | 5,342 | $396.24 | $2,116,714 |
| Mystical TutorMystical Tutor | N | U | | 103,464 | $20.00 | $2,069,280 |
| Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves | N | n | | 280,322 | $7.33 | $2,054,760 |
| Force of WillForce of Will | N | U | | 64,103 | $31.78 | $2,037,193 |
| Flooded StrandFlooded Strand | N | L | 129,963 | $15.30 | $1,988,434 | |
| Sword of Feast and FamineSword of Feast and Famine | N | n | | 31,939 | $61.99 | $1,979,899 |
| Sacred FoundrySacred Foundry | N | L | 104,224 | $18.34 | $1,911,468 | |
| Marsh FlatsMarsh Flats | N | L | 122,368 | $15.55 | $1,902,822 | |
| Arid MesaArid Mesa | N | L | 115,393 | $16.32 | $1,883,214 | |
| Morphic PoolMorphic Pool | N | L | 51,905 | $36.24 | $1,881,037 | |
| Worldly TutorWorldly Tutor | N | G | | 69,949 | $25.49 | $1,783,000 |
| Finale of DevastationFinale of Devastation | N | G |  | 53,198 | $33.37 | $1,775,217 |
| Nykthos, Shrine to NyxNykthos, Shrine to Nyx | N | L | 68,959 | $25.50 | $1,758,454 | |
| MoatMoat | Y | W | | 1,164 | $1,500.00 | $1,746,000 |
| Blood CryptBlood Crypt | N | L | 107,417 | $15.44 | $1,658,518 | |
| Steam VentsSteam Vents | N | L | 112,585 | $14.51 | $1,633,608 | |
| Watery GraveWatery Grave | N | L | 130,775 | $12.48 | $1,632,072 | |
| Toxic DelugeToxic Deluge | N | B | | 81,064 | $19.15 | $1,552,376 |
| Diabolic IntentDiabolic Intent | N | B | | 44,587 | $34.70 | $1,547,169 |
| Chrome MoxChrome Mox | N | n | | 86,599 | $17.77 | $1,538,864 |
| Overgrown TombOvergrown Tomb | N | L | 121,710 | $12.56 | $1,528,678 | |
| Swan SongSwan Song | N | U | | 111,649 | $13.29 | $1,483,815 |
| Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel | N | W | | 62,238 | $23.79 | $1,480,642 |
| Godless ShrineGodless Shrine | N | L | 113,839 | $12.71 | $1,446,894 | |
| Urza's SagaUrza's Saga | N | L | 38,047 | $37.61 | $1,430,948 | |
| Parallel LivesParallel Lives | N | G | | 30,662 | $46.24 | $1,417,811 |
| Ragavan, Nimble PilfererRagavan, Nimble Pilferer | N | R | | 18,934 | $73.96 | $1,400,359 |
| Luxury SuiteLuxury Suite | N | L | 43,560 | $31.59 | $1,376,060 | |
| Crucible of WorldsCrucible of Worlds | N | n | | 36,138 | $38.03 | $1,374,328 |
| SkullclampSkullclamp | N | n | | 144,970 | $9.36 | $1,356,919 |
| Deadly RollickDeadly Rollick | N | B | | 43,599 | $30.66 | $1,336,745 |
| DamnationDamnation | N | B | | 50,803 | $26.18 | $1,330,023 |
| Kozilek, Butcher of TruthKozilek, Butcher of Truth | N | n |  | 20,648 | $63.96 | $1,320,646 |
| NecropotenceNecropotence | N | B | | 41,915 | $29.97 | $1,256,193 |
| Gemstone CavernsGemstone Caverns | N | L | 43,920 | $28.57 | $1,254,794 | |
| Lotus PetalLotus Petal | N | n | | 71,496 | $17.43 | $1,246,175 |
| Ulamog, the Infinite GyreUlamog, the Infinite Gyre | N | n |  | 19,521 | $63.25 | $1,234,703 |
| Mox AmberMox Amber | N | n | | 34,460 | $35.71 | $1,230,567 |
| Capture of JingzhouCapture of Jingzhou | N | U | | 2,439 | $499.99 | $1,219,476 |
| Heroic InterventionHeroic Intervention | N | G | | 131,223 | $9.22 | $1,209,876 |
| Cabal CoffersCabal Coffers | N | L | 66,802 | $17.98 | $1,201,100 | |
| EarthcraftEarthcraft | Y | G | | 6,822 | $175.07 | $1,194,328 |
| Consecrated SphinxConsecrated Sphinx | N | U | | 30,406 | $38.70 | $1,176,712 |
| Green Sun's ZenithGreen Sun's Zenith | N | G | | 44,207 | $25.69 | $1,135,678 |
| Time SpiralTime Spiral | Y | U | | 6,315 | $174.61 | $1,102,662 |
| SpellseekerSpellseeker | N | U | | 31,409 | $34.35 | $1,078,899 |
| Temple GardenTemple Garden | N | L | 104,530 | $10.19 | $1,065,161 | |
| Craterhoof BehemothCraterhoof Behemoth | N | G |  | 36,021 | $29.04 | $1,046,050 |
| Chromatic LanternChromatic Lantern | N | n | | 102,996 | $10.08 | $1,038,200 |
| Jeska's WillJeska's Will | N | R | | 67,074 | $15.35 | $1,029,586 |
| Sword of Fire and IceSword of Fire and Ice | N | n | | 19,243 | $53.36 | $1,026,806 |
| Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos | Y | n | | 905 | $1,134.19 | $1,026,442 |
| Anointed ProcessionAnointed Procession | N | W | | 40,612 | $25.23 | $1,024,641 |
| Blightsteel ColossusBlightsteel Colossus | N | n |  | 19,184 | $52.85 | $1,013,874 |
| Sol RingSol Ring | N | n | | 832,694 | $1.21 | $1,007,560 |
| Stomping GroundStomping Ground | N | L | 105,972 | $9.42 | $998,256 | |
| Mystic RemoraMystic Remora | N | U | | 96,548 | $10.22 | $986,721 |
| Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar | N | n | | 87,422 | $11.06 | $966,887 |
| Field of the DeadField of the Dead | N | L | 49,462 | $19.49 | $964,014 | |
| Grand AbolisherGrand Abolisher | N | W | | 40,303 | $23.46 | $945,508 |
| Yawgmoth, Thran PhysicianYawgmoth, Thran Physician | N | B | | 25,472 | $36.78 | $936,860 |
| FlusterstormFlusterstorm | N | U | | 48,552 | $18.85 | $915,205 |
| ShadowspearShadowspear | N | n | | 46,193 | $19.75 | $912,312 |
| GambleGamble | N | R | | 51,951 | $17.52 | $910,182 |
| Sliver QueenSliver Queen | Y | Z | | 2,980 | $303.04 | $903,059 |
| Power ArtifactPower Artifact | Y | U | | 2,735 | $328.20 | $897,627 |
| Assassin's TrophyAssassin's Trophy | N | Z | | 64,677 | $13.75 | $889,309 |
| Ulamog, the Ceaseless HungerUlamog, the Ceaseless Hunger | N | n | | 17,690 | $49.82 | $881,316 |
| Mikaeus, the UnhallowedMikaeus, the Unhallowed | N | B | | 18,707 | $46.18 | $863,889 |
| Liliana, Dreadhorde GeneralLiliana, Dreadhorde General | N | B | | 29,287 | $29.42 | $861,624 |
| Land TaxLand Tax | N | W | | 39,917 | $21.49 | $857,816 |
| ExplorationExploration | N | G | | 41,712 | $20.52 | $855,930 |
| Hallowed FountainHallowed Fountain | N | L | 111,556 | $7.61 | $848,941 | |
| Stoneforge MysticStoneforge Mystic | N | W | | 20,278 | $41.56 | $842,754 |
| Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower | N | L | 278,936 | $3.02 | $842,387 | |
| Aetherflux ReservoirAetherflux Reservoir | N | n | | 54,729 | $15.38 | $841,732 |
| Bloom TenderBloom Tender | N | G | | 33,555 | $24.60 | $825,453 |
| Yavimaya HollowYavimaya Hollow | Y | L | 9,462 | $86.59 | $819,315 | |
| Nether VoidNether Void | Y | B | | 787 | $1,038.52 | $817,315 |
| Phyrexian TowerPhyrexian Tower | N | L | 48,610 | $16.67 | $810,329 | |
| Dark ConfidantDark Confidant | N | B | | 26,562 | $30.48 | $809,610 |
| Bountiful PromenadeBountiful Promenade | N | L | 37,170 | $21.11 | $784,659 | |
| BitterblossomBitterblossom | N | B | | 18,407 | $42.34 | $779,352 |
| Grim MonolithGrim Monolith | Y | n | | 26,811 | $28.99 | $777,251 |
| Urza's IncubatorUrza's Incubator | N | n | | 19,044 | $40.51 | $771,472 |
| Sea of CloudsSea of Clouds | N | L | 39,401 | $19.58 | $771,472 | |
| Dryad of the Ilysian GroveDryad of the Ilysian Grove | N | G | | 52,567 | $14.35 | $754,336 |
| Growing Rites of ItlimocGrowing Rites of Itlimoc | N | G | | 33,875 | $21.80 | $738,475 |
| Force of VigorForce of Vigor | N | G | | 28,937 | $25.16 | $728,055 |
| Carpet of FlowersCarpet of Flowers | N | G | | 40,106 | $18.03 | $723,111 |
| Shizo, Death's StorehouseShizo, Death's Storehouse | N | L | 19,923 | $36.10 | $719,220 | |
| Exquisite BloodExquisite Blood | N | B | | 22,387 | $31.99 | $716,160 |
| BurgeoningBurgeoning | N | G | | 25,864 | $27.19 | $703,242 |
| Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage | N | U | | 18,165 | $37.99 | $690,088 |
| Forbidden OrchardForbidden Orchard | N | L | 34,475 | $19.99 | $689,155 | |
| The Meathook MassacreThe Meathook Massacre | N | B | | 15,939 | $43.08 | $686,652 |
| Jet MedallionJet Medallion | N | n | | 18,821 | $36.45 | $686,025 |
| Guardian ProjectGuardian Project | N | G | | 59,326 | $11.46 | $679,876 |
| EntombEntomb | N | B | | 41,143 | $16.29 | $670,219 |
| Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor | N | U | | 12,466 | $53.46 | $666,432 |
| Strip MineStrip Mine | N | L | 54,017 | $12.27 | $662,789 | |
| Ravages of WarRavages of War | N | W | | 1,400 | $473.00 | $662,200 |
| Purphoros, God of the ForgePurphoros, God of the Forge | N | R | | 33,013 | $20.05 | $661,911 |
| Fabled PassageFabled Passage | N | L | 134,918 | $4.89 | $659,749 | |
| Torment of HailfireTorment of Hailfire | N | B | | 41,856 | $15.75 | $659,232 |
| Pact of NegationPact of Negation | N | U | | 56,486 | $11.61 | $655,802 |
| Grave PactGrave Pact | N | B | | 22,924 | $28.35 | $649,895 |
| Spire GardenSpire Garden | N | L | 34,609 | $18.54 | $641,651 | |
| City of BrassCity of Brass | N | L | 88,329 | $7.19 | $635,086 | |
| Helm of the HostHelm of the Host | N | n | | 36,976 | $17.17 | $634,878 |
| Copy ArtifactCopy Artifact | Y | U | | 8,042 | $78.58 | $631,940 |
| Lake of the DeadLake of the Dead | Y | L | 4,799 | $129.49 | $621,423 | |
| Elesh Norn, Grand CenobiteElesh Norn, Grand Cenobite | N | W | | 33,629 | $18.45 | $620,455 |
| Phyrexian ArenaPhyrexian Arena | N | B | | 71,881 | $8.62 | $619,614 |
| Ruby MedallionRuby Medallion | N | n | | 20,559 | $30.10 | $618,826 |
| The AbyssThe Abyss | Y | B | | 476 | $1,299.95 | $618,776 |
| Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer | N | U | | 13,923 | $43.45 | $604,954 |
| Grim TutorGrim Tutor | N | B | | 38,212 | $15.76 | $602,221 |
| ReanimateReanimate | N | B | | 63,484 | $9.47 | $601,193 |
| Goldspan DragonGoldspan Dragon | N | R | | 19,963 | $30.02 | $599,289 |
| Sapphire MedallionSapphire Medallion | N | n | | 18,609 | $31.94 | $594,371 |
| Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest | Y | G | | 15,355 | $38.59 | $592,549 |
| Wrenn and SixWrenn and Six | N | Z | | 6,026 | $98.29 | $592,296 |
| Path to ExilePath to Exile | N | W | | 147,032 | $4.00 | $588,128 |
| Cloudstone CurioCloudstone Curio | N | n | | 11,428 | $50.59 | $578,143 |
| The OzolithThe Ozolith | N | n | | 34,023 | $16.61 | $565,122 |
| Allosaurus ShepherdAllosaurus Shepherd | N | G | | 10,418 | $53.77 | $560,176 |
| Terror of the PeaksTerror of the Peaks | N | R | | 28,531 | $19.53 | $557,210 |
| Serra AscendantSerra Ascendant | N | W | | 22,238 | $24.92 | $554,171 |
| Vanquisher's BannerVanquisher's Banner | N | n | | 43,873 | $12.63 | $554,116 |
| Recruiter of the GuardRecruiter of the Guard | N | W | | 21,468 | $25.70 | $551,728 |
| Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault | N | R | | 13,233 | $41.68 | $551,551 |
| Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse | N | G | | 60,743 | $9.01 | $547,294 |
| Vedalken OrreryVedalken Orrery | N | n | | 19,178 | $28.37 | $544,080 |
| Ugin, the Spirit DragonUgin, the Spirit Dragon | N | n |  | 26,988 | $20.11 | $542,729 |
| The Scarab GodThe Scarab God | N | Z | | 14,141 | $37.95 | $536,651 |
| Walking BallistaWalking Ballista | N | n | | 36,249 | $14.73 | $533,948 |
| Yawgmoth's WillYawgmoth's Will | Y | B | | 13,260 | $40.08 | $531,461 |
| Arcane SignetArcane Signet | N | n | | 578,258 | $0.91 | $526,215 |
| Yavimaya, Cradle of GrowthYavimaya, Cradle of Growth | N | L | 55,591 | $9.43 | $524,223 | |
| Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle | N | U | | 55,756 | $9.37 | $522,434 |
| Birds of ParadiseBirds of Paradise | N | G | | 121,213 | $4.25 | $515,155 |
| Emrakul, the Promised EndEmrakul, the Promised End | N | n |  | 12,273 | $41.91 | $514,361 |
| Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver | N | W | | 33,377 | $15.15 | $505,662 |
| Avacyn, Angel of HopeAvacyn, Angel of Hope | N | W | | 25,898 | $19.31 | $500,090 |
| Ketria TriomeKetria Triome | N | L | 38,478 | $12.82 | $493,288 | |
| Oracle of Mul DayaOracle of Mul Daya | N | G | | 29,843 | $16.44 | $490,619 |
| Nyxbloom AncientNyxbloom Ancient | N | G | | 29,115 | $16.81 | $489,423 |
| Twilight ProphetTwilight Prophet | N | B | | 13,446 | $35.69 | $479,888 |
| Reflecting PoolReflecting Pool | N | L | 47,471 | $10.09 | $478,982 | |
| Zagoth TriomeZagoth Triome | N | L | 42,007 | $11.36 | $477,200 | |
| Pitiless PlundererPitiless Plunderer | N | B | | 40,022 | $11.92 | $477,062 |
| Anguished UnmakingAnguished Unmaking | N | Z | | 60,416 | $7.88 | $476,078 |
| Dictate of ErebosDictate of Erebos | N | B | | 37,500 | $12.38 | $464,250 |
| Concordant CrossroadsConcordant Crossroads | N | G | | 9,752 | $47.43 | $462,537 |
| Wurmcoil EngineWurmcoil Engine | N | n |  | 22,580 | $20.44 | $461,535 |
| Drowned CatacombDrowned Catacomb | N | L | 67,241 | $6.80 | $457,239 | |
| Coat of ArmsCoat of Arms | N | n | | 29,049 | $15.65 | $454,617 |
| Null RodNull Rod | Y | n | | 5,429 | $83.68 | $454,299 |
| Extraplanar LensExtraplanar Lens | N | n | | 13,027 | $34.70 | $452,037 |
| Sakashima of a Thousand FacesSakashima of a Thousand Faces | N | U | | 20,086 | $22.43 | $450,529 |
| Sea Gate RestorationSea Gate Restoration | N | U | | 28,725 | $15.58 | $447,536 |
| Veil of SummerVeil of Summer | N | G | | 56,560 | $7.89 | $446,258 |
| Living PlaneLiving Plane | Y | G | | 893 | $499.55 | $446,098 |
| Savai TriomeSavai Triome | N | L | 40,760 | $10.94 | $445,914 | |
| Triumph of the HordesTriumph of the Hordes | N | G | | 29,482 | $15.04 | $443,409 |
| Sylvan TutorSylvan Tutor | N | G | | 5,521 | $79.59 | $439,416 |
| Training GroundsTraining Grounds | N | U | | 13,769 | $31.72 | $436,753 |
| Isochron ScepterIsochron Scepter | N | n | | 46,768 | $9.32 | $435,878 |
| Razaketh, the FoulbloodedRazaketh, the Foulblooded | N | B | | 18,797 | $23.14 | $434,963 |
| Raugrin TriomeRaugrin Triome | N | L | 35,402 | $12.24 | $433,320 | |
| Demonic ConsultationDemonic Consultation | N | B | | 24,938 | $17.30 | $431,427 |
| Volrath's StrongholdVolrath's Stronghold | Y | L | 12,548 | $34.21 | $429,267 | |
| Sakashima's StudentSakashima's Student | N | U | | 6,428 | $66.67 | $428,555 |
| Bolas's CitadelBolas's Citadel | N | B | | 59,455 | $6.98 | $414,996 |
| Boseiju, Who Shelters AllBoseiju, Who Shelters All | N | L | 11,564 | $35.86 | $414,685 | |
| Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act | N | R | | 134,847 | $3.07 | $413,980 |
| Hinterland HarborHinterland Harbor | N | L | 61,781 | $6.67 | $412,079 | |
| Fiery EmancipationFiery Emancipation | N | R | | 20,658 | $19.92 | $411,507 |
| Thought VesselThought Vessel | N | n | | 130,252 | $3.14 | $408,991 |
| Inventors' FairInventors' Fair | N | L | 54,447 | $7.46 | $406,175 | |
| Vorinclex, Monstrous RaiderVorinclex, Monstrous Raider | N | G | | 15,572 | $26.07 | $405,962 |
| Agadeem's AwakeningAgadeem's Awakening | N | B | | 23,759 | $16.96 | $402,953 |
| Opposition AgentOpposition Agent | N | B | | 47,541 | $8.38 | $398,394 |
| Diamond ValleyDiamond Valley | Y | L | 491 | $809.94 | $397,681 | |
| Mycosynth LatticeMycosynth Lattice | N | n | | 10,578 | $36.82 | $389,482 |
| Personal TutorPersonal Tutor | N | U | | 4,633 | $83.89 | $388,662 |
| Spark DoubleSpark Double | N | U | | 46,802 | $8.29 | $387,989 |
| Argothian EnchantressArgothian Enchantress | N | G | | 10,301 | $37.20 | $383,197 |
| Heliod, Sun-CrownedHeliod, Sun-Crowned | N | W | | 20,769 | $18.35 | $381,111 |
| Gauntlet of MightGauntlet of Might | Y | R | | 1,306 | $289.99 | $378,727 |
| Inkmoth NexusInkmoth Nexus | N | L | 9,243 | $40.67 | $375,913 | |
| Oboro, Palace in the CloudsOboro, Palace in the Clouds | N | L | 4,320 | $85.92 | $371,174 | |
| Avenger of ZendikarAvenger of Zendikar | N | G | | 66,023 | $5.60 | $369,729 |
Turns out, TimetwisterTimetwister is the Apple of Commander.
The only question remaining to be answered: what does it all add up to? If we were to sum these market capitalization values across all cards in the EDHREC database, theoretically encapsulating the entire value of over 1,000,000 Commander decks (assuming our untrue assumptions hold), how much are all of the cards enumerated on EDHREC worth?
The answer: $804,053,241
Just think of the hours spent double-sleeving all of those cards!
Thoughts? Questions? Critiques? Suggestions?
Let me hear them! Do you think it's reasonable to assert that card strength correlates with market cap? Were you able to guess any of the top 10? Which cards are you most looking to see drop off the top of this list? I'd love to hear what you think, and if you aren’t already, please follow me on Twitter!
MtGDS
MtGDS (AKA Magic Data Science) is pretty new to the game, but is trying to understand it as best he can through data. He loves making graphs and finding new ways to measure things. You can read his non-Commander articles at http://mtgds.wordpress.com, and he's worth a follow on Twitter @MtG_DS.
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